Father and child sit together smiling while looking at a smart phone.

Want more recommendations for your family?

Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration

Parents' Guide to

How the Toys Saved Christmas

By Brian Costello, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 5+

Delightful animated Christmas story, but some bullying.

Movie G 2003 93 minutes
How the Toys Saved Christmas Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 6+

Based on 1 parent review

XmasParent
XmasParent Adult
December 9, 2012
age 6+

Some awkward spots; cannot agree with CSM age recommendation

I would have passed if I had known how frequently the characters mention that there is no Santa. I cringed 3 or 4 times during this movie and cannot recommend for children 6 and under, despite what CSM says here.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Each Christmas, Granny Rose (Mary Tyler Moore) helps Santa deliver the presents to the children of her village. When she is taken ill and bedridden, she asks Mr. Grimm (Tony Randall) to deliver the presents for her. Instead, he intends to sell them and make a lot of money. Overhearing Mr. Grimm's wicked plans, the toys decide to go around the village and deliver themselves. While Mr. Grimm tries to stop the toys, Granny Rose must figure out a way to stop Mr. Grimm, and insure that all the toys in the village are delivered to the good boys and girls, especially Christopher Winter, a boy who has come to believe that Christmas is only for rich kids.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

HOW THE TOYS SAVED CHRISTMAS is a delightful Christmas cartoon delivering timeless holiday themes of selfless giving and Christmas cheer overcoming greed. These messages are presented in an original manner, as toys attempt to deliver themselves. Whereas many Christmas movies and cartoons can feel heavy-handed or even cynical, this understated should-be classic finds its own unique place in holiday fare.

Both parents and children will enjoy this tale of holiday gift-giving.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how How the Toys Saved Christmas compares to other Christmas movies. Where does the story seem similar to other Christmas stories? Where is does it stand out as its own unique story?

  • How do Christopher Winters and Granny Rose stand up to the bullies they meet? Have you or a friend ever been bullied? How did you handle it?

  • What does the film say is the meaning of Christmas? What do you believe?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate